NEW YORK -- What a strange sight to see Shea Stadium half empty for a game between the Mets and Atlanta Braves. Oh, the Mets announced a paid attendance of over 50,000 -- as they always do these days -- but clearly many of those who bought tickets decided the Braves just weren't worth turning up to see.

But even with the Braves sitting 12 games behind them in the standings, there are no easy games for the Mets. Not with the news that closer Billy Wagner would not come off the disabled list any time soon, and not with the out-of-town scoreboard showing the new rivals, the Phillies, rallying to beat lowly Washington down in Philadelphia.

So it was nail-biting time Tuesday night when Atlanta manager Bobby Cox brought on left-hander Will Ohman to pitch to the left-handed slugging Carlos Delgado with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning and the Braves holding a one-run lead.

And Delgado, who has found himself in the second half of this season, delivered in the clutch, blasting a two-run double off the wall in left field to spark the five-run rally that would carry the Mets to an important 7-3 victory in the opener of a three-game series.

"It was a fastball right down the middle," Delgado said with a smile later. "In that situation, that's what you're hoping you get. It was a pretty good pitch to hit, and I was able to drive it to the opposite field."

The victory allowed the Mets to hold their 1 1/2-game lead over the Phils, who rallied to beat the Nationals, 5-4.

The victory was a big one not just because the Phillies won, but because it gave the Mets hope they can find ways to win without Wagner, who has saved 27 games this season.

And the fact that Delgado's big blow was followed by a two-run single by Damion Easley and a hard RBI double by Ramon Castro to turn a close game into a blowout was also significant. Given a four-run lead to protect, Scott Schoeneweis pitched the ninth without incident as the Mets won for the 11th time in the last 15 games.

"When we do that, and hit in those situations, it gives everybody a sigh of relief," interim manager Jerry Manuel said. "As defensive players, as pitchers coming in, they don't feel like they have to execute perfectly. They can make a mistake, or allow a baserunner here or there without it being a situation where we have to make a decision one way or the other."

Mets starter Oliver Perez posted another strong outing, though he left the game with one out in the seventh trailing 3-2 after the Braves rallied for three runs in the third inning. Perez gutted his way through five walks and 114 pitches.

John Munson/The Star-LedgerMartin Prado of the Braves is forced out at second as Mets shortstop Jose Reyes throws to first to complete the double play in the fourth inning Tuesday night.

He got help from newcomer Luis Ayala, who came on to replace him in the seventh with runners on first and third. Ayala knocked Omar Infante down with his first pitch, then got Infante and Brian McCann to pop up for the final two outs of the inning. For Manuel, it was an impressive debut from Ayala.

"That probably kind of changed the momentum right there," Manuel said. "We were able to keep them right there at that point, that was probably the turning point of the game -- (Ayala) to come in and get us out of that without allowing a run. That was very big."

The Mets scored twice in the first to take the early lead, but after Chipper Jones' RBI single and an RBI groundout by McCann and a sac fly by Jeff Francoeur, the Braves had taken the lead, 3-2 in the third.

But in the eighth, rookie Nick Evans and David Wright walked, with Endy Chavez pinch running for Evans. Carlos Beltran then singled to load the bases to bring up Delgado.

And Delgado produced his 80th and 81st RBI of the season to propel the Mets to victory.

"Billy (Wagner)'s a big part of our bullpen, but we have to keep our head above water until he comes back," Delgado said. "We wish him a speedy recovery, but with the guys that we have, we're good enough. We've just got to go out and battle."